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Precise temporal association between cortical potentials evoked by motor imagination and afference induces cortical plasticity
Author(s) -
MrachaczKersting Natalie,
Kristensen Signe Rom,
Niazi Imran Khan,
Farina Dario
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.222851
Subject(s) - neuroscience , transcranial magnetic stimulation , somatosensory system , motor cortex , neuroplasticity , stimulation , sensory system , primary motor cortex , somatosensory evoked potential , afferent , psychology
Key points • Here we use the naturally generated brain activation when a person imagines a simple movement and combine this with the afferent inflow that would be generated had the movement been performed rather than imagined. • We show that the excitability of the neural projections connecting the relevant brain areas to the target muscle is increased only when the afferent inflow arrives during the highest activation phase. • Furthermore, the changes are specific to the task and the neural connections between the brain and muscle involved in the task. • This novel intervention will open up the possibilities to alter afferent‐generated feedback depending on the demands of the movement to be performed.